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Pledis Ent.

Things to Know

Pledis Entertainment 플레디스 엔터테인먼트 was founded in 2007 by Han Sungsoo. It is currently home to After School, Orange Caramel, NU'EST, Han Dong Geun, Kye Bumzu, Seventeen, and Pristin. Its name originates from the Pleiades, a star cluster in the constellation Taurus. Its vice-president is Kim Yeonsoo.

Pledis' first artist was Son Dambi. In its beginning stages, the agency did not have management premises, only a practice room. In January 2009, Pledis debuted its first female idol group, After School. A sub-unit of After School called Orange Caramel was formed in 2010, consisting of members Nana, Lizzy, and Raina.

In December 2010, Pledis released Happy Pledis 1st Album, featuring After School. Happy Pledis was a series of albums to be released annually, featuring Pledis artists, with proceeds going to charity. Proceeds from the first album were donated to Save the Children.

In July 2011, two further sub-units of After School were created, A.S. Red and A.S. Blue. Happy Pledis 2nd Album, featuring Son Dambi, After School, Pledis Boys, and Yoo Ara, was released in December, with proceeds going to UNICEF.

In March 2012, Pledis debuted their first male idol group, Nu’est. In May 2012, Pledis' joint venture with Fantagio debuted the female idol group Hello Venus.

In June 2012, Kahi "graduated" from After School, staying with Pledis for a solo career.

On November 11, 2013, Pledis Entertainment and Chinese agency Yuehua Entertainment held a press conference at the Beijing Banquet Hall. Together, they promoted the sub-unit Nu’est-M, a collaboration between existing idol group Nu'est and new Chinese member Jason Fulong Fei, known as JA. The six-member team performed for the first time at the press event.

On July 21, 2014, the partnership between Pledis and Fantagio was dissolved. The two members under Pledis, Yoo Ara and Yoonjo, left Hello Venus, while the four members under Fantagio continued as a group under the same name. Yoo Ara later left the company and joined Urbanworks Entertainment.

In December 2014, Jooyeon "graduated" from After School after her contracts expired. That month, Kahi announced to parted ways with the agency.

Thirteen-member boy group Seventeen debuted in May 2015, after training under the company for several years. In June 2015, Son Dambi parted ways with the agency after ten years.

In March 2016, Pledis formed the trainee team "Pledis Girlz." Some of the trainees (Nayoung, Roa, Yuha, Eunwoo, Rena, Kyulkyung, and Xiyeon) had competed on the competition show "Produce 101." Nayoung and Kyulkyung debuted in the project group I.O.I. Pledis Girlz held weekly concerts from May 2016 till January 2017, and released their pre-debut single "We" without Nayoung and Kyulkyung, who were still promoting with I.O.I at the time. In January 2017, Pledis Girlz concluded their weekly concert with the announcement of the official group name, Pristin. Pristin's official debut, with the two I.O.I. members, was in April 2017.

On May 31, 2017, Pledis announced that UEE "graduated" from After School after her contracts expired.